Large Nests in Trees 



337. Red-tailed Hawk: Buteo borealis (Cmel.) 



Adult — Upper parts dark brown ; the feathers marked with rust 

 colour and buff ; tail bright chestnut, with a dark band and 

 whitish tip. Under parts: Breast buffy white, with heavy 

 streaks on the upper part, and few or none on the lower 

 part ; belly whitish ; sides streaked with brown. 



Immature — The tail brown instead of chestnut. Length — I , 

 20.00 ; ? , 29.00. 



Breeding Range — The Eastern States. 



The nest, which is very large and shallow, is made of sticks, 

 moss, and grass, and sometimes feathers ; it is placed against the 

 trunk, usually at a considerable height. Pine trees situated in 

 the dense forests are most often used. 2 to 3, and sometimes 

 4, eggs are laid ; they are whitish, either unmarked or heavily 

 blotched with shades of reddish and yellowish brown and lilac, 

 occasionally the markings confined to the larger end. Size — 

 2.36 X 1.80. 



These large and handsome hawks usually build their own 

 nests every year ; but in some instances they have been known 

 to use the old nests of either hawks or crows. 



The breeding season, varying according to locality, begins 

 in April or May ; in the neighbourhood of New York nests may 

 be found early in April. 



3S7d. Harlan's Hawk: Buteo borealis harlani (Aud.) 



Breeding Range — " The Gulf States and Lower Mississippi Valley, 

 north to Pennsylvania, Iowa, and Kansas." (Davie.) 



A sub-species of the red-tailed hawk, being somewhat 

 smaller, darker in colour on the back, belly spotted, and the tail 

 mottled with rusty red, black, gray, and whitish. 



The nest is placed in a large tree; it is composed of sticks, 

 lined with leaves and moss. 



2 eggs mentioned by Davie measure 2.40 x 1.81 and 

 2.45 X 1.83; "their ground colour is bluish white, blotched with 

 brown; in one somewhat sparingly over the small end, and in 

 the other specimen sprinkled over the entire surface." 



125 



